Tuesday's Champions League predictions: Real have top spot in their sights

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Tuesday's group matches in the Uefa Champions League.

Real Madrid v Inter

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Real Madrid
1pt 6-5 Betfair

Preview

A draw will be enough for Real Madrid to top Group D at the expense of Inter so manager Carlo Ancelotti won’t want to take any risks when the Serie A side come calling.

Real were 1-0 winners at San Siro in September and they have sparked into life since suffering a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol on matchday two.

Los Blancos are unbeaten in 11 and have won their last eight games in all competitions, including victories over Barcelona, Sevilla and Real Sociedad.

Ancelotti’s men are in better health now than early on in the campaign and at some point Inter have to go for gold, which could leave space in behind for Real to exploit.

Inter are also on a five-game winning run but Real, despite being without the services of injured striker Karim Benzema, look too hot to handle at present.

Key stats

• Real Madrid have won eight matches on the spin in all competitions
• Five of Real Madrid's eight consecutive wins in all competitions came by a one-goal margin
• Inter have scored at least once in ten of 11 away matches in all competitions this term

Porto v Atletico Madrid

Where to watch

BT Sport ESPN, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Under 2.5 goals
1pt 4-5 Betfair

Preview

Liverpool have made light work of what looked a competitive Group B, but the scrap for second is well and truly on and Porto know a win will be enough to see them join the Reds in the knockout stages.

The ball is in the Dragons’ court but Atletico Madrid, who have exited at the group stage only once in the last seven years, also require maximum points to give them a shot at qualification.

The pair played out a goalless draw in the Spanish capital in September and it could be another nervy night at the Estadio do Dragao.

Despite sitting second in the section, Porto have scored only three goals from five games and four of those fixtures saw no more than two goals.

Atletico, renowned for their defensive discipline, have also seen two or fewer goals in three of their five assignments and, given what is at stake, this clash may bolster the low-scoring trend.

Key stats

• Porto have won eight of nine home matches in all competitions this season
• There have been 11 goals scored in each of Porto and Atletico’s five group games - an average of 2.2 goals per game
• Atletico Madrid have won just three of their last ten matches in all competitions

Shakhtar Donetsk v Sheriff Tiraspol

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 4, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Sheriff Tiraspol or draw double chance
1pt 8-5 Coral

Preview

Sheriff Tiraspol have worked wonders to secure Europa League football for next year and they can sign off a respectable Champions League campaign with another positive result at Shakhtar Donetsk.

It was difficult to know what to expect from Champions League debutants Sheriff, who sit only second in the Moldovan top flight, but they have adapted well to the challenge.

Yuriy Vernydub’s men kickstarted their group campaign with a 2-0 home win over Shakhtar before stunning La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid in a history-making 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu.

Sheriff have lost their subsequent three starts in Europe but netted in a 3-1 loss against Inter at the San Siro and also grabbed a consolation in the return clash with Real.

And they may want it more than Ukrainian hosts Shakhtar, who have collected just one point and scored only one goal in what has been poor showing from them in Group D.

Key stats

• Shakhtar Donetsk have picked up just one point from five Champions League group matches
• Sheriff have won five of their last six away games in all competitions, including a triumph against Real Madrid
• Both teams have scored in just one of Shakhtar's five Champions League group matches this season

Borussia Dortmund v Besiktas

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 3, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Borussia Dortmund to win & both teams to score
1pt 11-8 general

Preview

Besiktas have lost all five Champions League encounters this season and their fortunes look unlikely to change at Borussia Dortmund, who will play Europa League football in the new year.

Dortmund have been hit-and-miss under Marco Rose, winning 12 but losing six of their last 18 matches, although this clash represents an excellent opportunity against a side starved of confidence.

The pressure is being ramped up on away boss Sergen Yalcin, with last season’s Turkish champions languishing in ninth in the Super Lig after 15 games and having suffered ten losses from their last 13 outings.

Rose may tweak his starting line-up but they should still have too much class for a brittle Besiktas, who have shipped 14 goals in their five group assignments.

Dortmund have shipped 11 times themselves in Europe this term and are without a clean sheet in six, so an entertaining home win looks the best bet.

Key stats

• Besiktas have lost all five Champions League group matches
• Besiktas have been behind at half-time in four of their five Champions League group games this season
• Both teams have scored in eight of Dortmund’s 11 home matches this season

Ajax v Sporting

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 2, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Over 3.5 goals
1pt 29-20 Betfair

Preview

Ajax and Sporting have already booked their ticket in the knockout phase of the Champions League and it’s difficult to know who will take this final Group C clash most seriously.

The Eredivisie leaders are a perfect five from five and have topped the pile while Sporting are on a 12-game winning run in all competitions and may want to keep that sequence going.

With team selections tough to predict, goals may be the way to go at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Ajax were emphatic 5-1 winners in Lisbon in September and both of their meetings with Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund also rewarded backers of over 3.5 goals.

Four of Sporting’s five European fixtures have featured at least four goals too and, with confidence flying high, they should play their part in another entertaining encounter in Amsterdam.

Key stats

• Ajax have won all five of their Champions League group games this term
• Sporting have scored in all but one of their nine away matches this season
• Sporting have kept only one clean sheet in five Champions League games

PSG v Club Brugge

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 5.45pm Tuesday

Best bet

Both teams to score
1pt 7-10 Hills

Preview

Second spot in Group A is already locked for Paris St-Germain and with nothing riding on their battle with Club Brugge at the Parc des Princes, goals may be on the menu.

With PSG assured of their place in the knockout stages, manager Mauricio Pochettino may opt to ring the changes, while Club Brugge should be fully focused as they know that bettering Leipzig’s result at home to Manchester City would see them drafted into the Europa League.

The Belgian visitors were thrashed 5-0 at home to Leipzig on matchday five but that was a rare blip in what has ultimately been a respectable Champions League campaign.

Brugge held PSG to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture, recorded a 2-1 win over Leipzig in Germany and scored in each of their defeats to City, suggesting they have what it takes to breach a PSG backline that have conceded in four of their five group games.

Key stats

• PSG are unbeaten in ten home games in all competitions this season, winning on nine occasions
• PSG have kept only one clean sheet across their last 13 Champions League matches
• Both teams have scored in seven of Club Brugge’s last eight matches

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